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W. H. SAWYER. Electrical Switch 00rd.

N0. 243,162. Patented June 21,1881.

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Ewen r IAYazger. fdmbfii fzf UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

YVILLIAM H. SAWYER, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO EUGENE F.PHILLIPS, SAME PLACE.

ELECTRICAL SWITCH-CORD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 243,162, dated June 21,1881.

Application filed May 4, 1881.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. SAWYER,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Providence, in the county ofProvidence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Electrical Switch Cords or Connecting-Wires; andI do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to the wires for connectingelectrical instrumentsof various kinds with electrical circuits or lines terminating attelegraphic or telephonic switch-boards, and has for its object toconnect said wires with their plugs or wedges in such manner that theywill not be liable to become easily detached or broken away therefrom,and also to enable the handy manipulation of the wires, and theinsertion of the plugs or wedges into the spring-jacks or othercircuit-closing devices without the switchmans hand coming in contactwith the conducting portions of said plugs or wedges.

Heretofore the connecting or circuit-closing wires used in telegraph andtelephone offices have been covered with cotton threads braided or woundon, and said wires inclosed in pairs in braided tubes of such threads,an end of each wire being uncovered and projecting from one end of thetubular braiding, for the purpose of insertion into the sockets ofbinding-posts, while the other ends are connected to a circuit-closingplug or wedge by beinginserted into apertures therein and secured to thecontact-plates, and sometimes the wedges have been provided with shortrigid handles, through which the wires pass. In the continual handlingof the wires they are bent to and fro at the points where they enter thewedges or handles, and are soon uncovered by the wearing off of thebraid and broken, the uncovering and breakage being promoted by thegrasping of the wires, as it is imprac- (No model.)

the hand from contact with the conducting or contact plates.

In my invention I discard the rigid handle, and provide for the wedgeand wires a flexible handle and guard by surrounding the wires at theirportions adjacent to the wedge with a helical spring, securing saidspring at one through the wedge between the contact-platesand to oneside of the helical spring of the handle. Fig. 3 is a perspective viewof a portion of a switch'cord provided with a modified form of wedge.Fig. 4 is a partially-sectional view, showing a modified form of springin the handle, the wedge being provided with a face or tablet to receivea designating number or mark. In Fig. 5 are shown detached views ofseveral forms of springs which may be used in the flexible handle.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the letter A denotes a wedge or block ofhard rubber, upon opposite surfaces of which are secured metalliccontact-plates B- 13+, which the wedge insulates from each other. Neartheir inner ends, the plates are extended laterally and bent to liepartially across opposite edges of the wedge, respectively, as shown atb and 12+, and from these extensions project narrow metallic springscc+, alongside, but separated by a little space from, a narrow shank, A,of the wedge, the end portion of which is widened, as shown at A andprovided with longitudinal passages, through which are passed theseparated covered end portions of the wires, the naked tips 61' 61+ ofwhich lie against the springs cc+, and are secured thereto and to thewedge by being bound with stout thread or twine, as shown at e.

The letter F indicates the tubular braiding wires at their junction withthe wedge, and for a suitable distance therefrom, to form a-handle ofconvenient length. The end of the spring next the plug sets over ashouldered portion, a, thereof, and the end of the wire of which thespring is formed is passed through a hole in the wedge, as shown at a,in order to hold the spring snugly to said wedge.

The letter H denotes the inclosing-coverin g of the spring, thiscovering being preferably a two or three ply braided tube, which extendsbeyond the ends of the spring in both directions, one end passing over apart of the wedge, as shown, and caught by the binding-cord 0, and theother end being narrowed to snugly embrace the tube which incloses thewires beyond the spring.

I do not confine myself to any particular covering for the-spring, butprefer to slip it over the wires and the inelosing-tube as formed in thebraiding-machine, and braid back over the spring without cutting thebraidingthreads.

In Fig. 3 the arrangement and connection of the parts are precisely asshown in Fig. 2, the only difference being that the portion A or thewedge between the contact-plates has a thickness greater than thediameter of the shank and binding-thread, this being for the purpose ofallowing several wedges to be inserted in the same spring-j ack or othercircuit closing device on a switcl1-board,with their flat surfaces inclose contact throughout their lengths, which cannot be the ease withthe form shown in Figs. 1 and 2, as the bound shanks would keep theinner ends of the contact-plates of two wedges apart.

5, where F is a spring made of a fiat strip and in oval coils, F is aspring made of wire in oval coils, and F has the flat strip bent atright angles to form the coils.

I may also use a piece of india-rubber tubing in lieu of the helicalspring, covering it with the braiding, as described.

What I claim is 1. The electrical connecting or circuit-closing wiresand connected wedge provided with a tubular flexible elastic handlesurrounding the portions of the wires adjacent to the wedge, andsurrounded by a suitable covering, sub stantially as described.

2. The electrical connecting or circuit-closing wires and connectedwedge provided with a flexible elastic handle, composed of a helicalspring surroui'uling the portions of the wires adjacent to the wedge,connected to said wedge, and inclosed in a suitable covering,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

W. H. SAWYEB.

Witnesses:

JOHN C. PURKIS, GILMAN E. J OPP.

